Children of the rich -- Fiction; Love stories; Lumber trade -- Fiction; Washington (State) -- Fiction
"Because 'tis her secret, an' why should I share it wit' you, m'anin'
no disrespect, sor, at that?"
"Your sentiments do you honor, Dan--a heap more honor than I ever
thought you possessed. If Mr. Donald's life should happen to be the
price of your silence, however, you'd tell me, wouldn't you?"
"I would. The young gintlemin's blood runs in my veins, sor."
"Thank you, Dan. Give me her address."
"Number one eighty-five Madison Avenue, Noo Yorrk City," Dirty Dan
replied promptly. "More I do not know. Am I on the pay-roll agin?"
"You bet! I'll pick out a good job for you as soon as I find time to
think about it."
"Could I have a dollar or two in advance--" the wanderer began, as
Daney hastened toward the door.
"Certainly." The door slammed, and Dirty Dan could hear the general
manager shouting in the general office. "Dirty Dan is back. Give him
some money."
Mr. O'Leary sighed contentedly.
"Oh-ho, 'tis the great life we live," he murmured, and hastened
outside to present himself at the cashier's window, while Andrew Daney
continued on to the Tyee Lumber Company's hospital, tiptoed down the
corridor to the room where the young Laird of Port Agnew lay dying,
and rapped lightly on the door. A nurse came out and closed the door
after her.
"Well?" Daney demanded.
"No change. His temperature fell two degrees during the night and he
slept a little, but the fever is up again this morning, and he's
raving again. Any news at your end?"
"Yes. I have the girl's address. She's in New York. Is his father
inside?"
"Yes."
"Ask him to step into the reception room for a few minutes, please."
The Laird appeared promptly in response to this message, and the two
men walked slowly down the hall to the reception-room. Daney closed
the door and resolutely faced The Laird.
"The doctors and the nurses tell me things, sir, they're afraid to
tell you," he began. "Ordinarily, the boy should be able to fight this
thing through successfully, for he has a splendid body and a lot of
resistance, but the fact of the matter is, he isn't trying. He doesn't
want to get well."
The Laird's face went white.
"They believe this?" he cried sharply.
"They do. His subconscious mind clings to the memory of his loss. He
keeps calling for her in his delirium, doesn't he? Now that he is
assured she has dropped out of his life forever, he doesn't give a
snap whether school keeps or not--and the doctors cannot cure him. If
the girl were here--well, she might. Her very presence would bring
about a strong mental and physical reaction--" He paused a moment.
Then, "I know where she can be found."
The Laird raised his haggard face and though his stern gray eyes were
dull with agony, yet Daney saw in them the light of an unfaltering
resolution.
"I have left my son's honor and his life in the hands of God Almighty.
I have made my bed and I'll lie in it," he panted.
"But if the boy should die--"
"Rather that than--than--"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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